AUGUST, page 16
Meanwhile, while recording that video about whack and disloyal bitches, Coco Beats stood behind Nesha gassing her the fuck up. Between the timestamp on my DM from Coco Beats, and the time with which the video of her and Nesha was uploaded, Nesha didn’t understand just how crazy shit looked to me. Coco Beats was a hater and a mean girl. I never trusted those types.
Losing the only best friend I had was fucked up. However, there was no repairing this relationship. Once Nesha showed me her colors, I could never redraw the picture to get a different outcome. It wasn’t a simple I’m mad at you. Nesha came for my pockets. That was grounds for not only a fade, but a cut off as well.
“I’m gon’ hire you a social media manager.” August’s voice rumbled under my head.
I laid on his chest, having crawled back into bed after handling my morning routine. June was still asleep and so was the rest of the house. August and I took this time to cuddle with each other. Just the thought caused me to burrow deeper into his side. I never thought being this close to a man would have me all tingly inside.
“I do need an assistant, huh?”
“Mm, hm. My girl ain’t gon’ be workin’ all damn day and night, stressing herself the fuck out.”
I snickered.
“I probably should’ve thought about that before recruiting Jacoba. It is what it is, though. We’ll get things in place.”
As I smiled, he rolled over on top of me, took my phone from my hand, and placed it on the nightstand. Before my next thought formed, he was deep inside me. It was crazy how wet my pussy stayed for him. She required nothing for him to invade her. I shuddered hard as he pushed deep, not caring that I was on the verge of screaming his name.
“You gon’ have every fuckin’ thing you ever wanted, lil’ baby,” he declared.
Bringing his face to mine, I opened my mouth wide and drew in his long, thick tongue. Before long, I came so hard it triggered his own powerful release. We stayed in bed until we heard the rest of the house stirring.
Later that evening, I excused myself from the dinner table, slipped out of the dining room and onto the patio, then answered my mother’s call.
“Hello?” After not hearing from her on my birthday, I was sure she’d be mad for a while.
“You really can’t help but to fuck people’s lives up, huh? I’m minding my own damn business, and I get a call from Lotus the Ugly Fuck, because you had her daughter arrested. Imagine my surprise to find out that Elijah is there too.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Did Lotus tell you why her husband and daughter got arrested in the first place?”
“Yep. You popped off at the mouth, so he smacked you in it. You can’t blame Tera for taking up for her dad even if you wouldn’t have taken up for me.”
I fumed. “Really? I popped off at the mouth defending your name. I beat Tera’s ass defending yo’ fuckin’ name,” I hissed.
“Well, you started all this shit anyway by stealing his mama’s house and being up under her so fucking much.”
I’d been pacing as my mother ranted. I stopped upon hearing her say I’d stolen from my grandmother.
“First of all, I didn’t steal anything. She gave me that house. What the hell did she ever do to you for you to hate her? You and Elijah both.”
My mama chuckled. “I never wanted to be the one to tell you this, but your grandmother, the one you love and dote on so much is a fuckin’ sham. Don’t believe me, look up Daniel Williams. Any one of the articles on him will tell you what you need to know.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“I’m sick of you acting like she’s a saint. You wanna know why your daddy is the way he is, look up who the fuck his mama is. And don’t think I haven’t seen you flaunting your ass all over Miami. SJ showed me just how much work you had to do for why you couldn’t come home.”
This time when my mother hung up in my face, I promptly blocked her.
“The fuck you cryin’ for?” August barked.
So wrapped up in my thoughts and fury, I didn’t even feel the tears streaming down my face.
“That was my mother.”
He walked up to me and plucked my phone out of my hand. His face was set in a harsh scowl as he did so.
“What was wrong?” he asked. By now, he had me in his arms and was wiping the tears I didn’t catch away.
“She got a call from Elijah’s wife, Lotus. Tera, my sister, is in jail now, too.”
The non-reaction in his face caused my eyebrows to draw together.
“I checked ya emails. How long as her ass been threatening you?”
Sighing, I rested my head on August’s broad chest. He stroked my back, and I did all I could to fight back the tears I wanted to cry.
“My family is complicated, August. My mother was a drunk and spent most of my youth chasing behind niggas. I hated that shit. She married a man named Sherman, who already had his own children at the time. When I say they didn’t welcome me with open arms, I mean that.”
I swallowed the nasty taste coming from my stomach. It had been a few days since I’d felt sick. The moment of reprieve seemed to be up.
“Then there’s Elijah’s wife and kids. Eli is the oldest. I’m the youngest. Tera is the middle one, and the one I ended up fighting. Of course, they blame me for everything that has ever gone wrong in their lives. It’s like the only person I’ve ever had is my grandmother. Now my mother is trying to paint her out to be evil.”
August tilted his head in disdain. Anyone speaking ill on my grandmother instantly pissed him off.
“What you mean?”
I relayed the message my mother had given me. “I don’t know who that person is, and honestly, I don’t wanna know.” I was afraid to know. “It’s the fact that my mama is so hellbent on making me believe the worst about a woman who loves me more than the two people who conceived me. What’s crazier is my grandma respects my mama enough to not even let me talk bad about her. Is that a woman who could be evil like my mama says?”
“First of all,” he started, “I don’t want you lookin’ into shit. Secondly, if ya mama can’t call with some muthafuckin’ sense, you don’t need to be talkin’ to her.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Again, I can tell you’ve never had a nigga ‘bout that fuckin’ life when it comes to you. I’m ‘bout it, lil’ baby. I want all the fuckin’ smoke, and I promise you I’ain gon’ choke on that shit.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and stared into his haunting eyes.
“I promise my life was peaceful once.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Everyone’s life is peaceful at one point in time, Big Head. Then chaos comes. Peace is when you sit back and thank God for the quietness. Chaos is when you rise up and thank God that He’s on your side through it. I need you to understand that I’m on ya side. I don’t care what it’s about, or who it’s against. Aight?”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“We gon’ go back in here and finish dinner. Then we can call it an early night. Deal?”
“Deal.”
We went back inside to join Jacoba and Blu. The kids had already been bathed and fed. After spending time in the Miami sun, they each were out for the count before night had even fallen. With it just being the four of us gathered around the table, we reminisced on our pasts.
Jacoba’s and Blu’s upbringing were what any child would’ve loved. To have a loving family and experience healthy relationships amongst my parents was a dream of mine. It was clear that Blu got his protective and loving ways from the father he held on a pedestal. Jacoba gushed over the love she received from her mother, who supported her in every step of her music career.
Sitting here listening to them should’ve caused a shrivel of envy. Instead, I was filled with admiration. Hope also filled me. One day I hoped to show my own children what it was like to grow up in a home covered in deep-rooted love. Thinking about my grandma, I hated the way she was spending the latter part of her years. Being away from her was tearing me up inside. Yet, I was also enjoying my time with August, Jacoba, Blu, and the kids. Still, I wondered how much more this trip would’ve been special if my grandmother was here. She supported and loved me unconditionally. I wanted her to meet the people who were quickly coming into my life and making things a lot brighter than they had been in very long time.
August’s hand reached underneath the table to rest on my thigh. He caught me off in space, and the concerned look on his face caused me to relax the frown on mine. I offered him a smile, then picked up my fork to start back eating my food.
Shortly after dinner, my scalp was sore from August gripping the roots of my hair. I bobbed my head so good on his dick that I had him fighting for his life not to bust too soon. His dick was hard, my throat was eagerly awaiting his body’s cum, and I had him so sloppy the sounds of me slurping vibrated against my clit.
August grunted and finally lost the fight of holding back. His thigh jerked under my hand as I used the other one to coax out every drop of him. I didn’t stop swallowing until he stopped cumming.
Just like June, I wanted to cry before leaving Miami. Jacoba and Blu promised June they’d see him on his birthday, but that wasn’t enough to make him happy on the ride home. When we made it back to Pensacola, he cried all over again. Instead of taking him back to Faith, August brought June to Ensley Shores. The fact that he was about to introduce June to my grandmother caused my heart to swell.
“Mrs. Mary can’t see?” June asked for the third time.
“No, baby. Remember, she’s blind,” August reminded him.
I chuckled as August parked his truck. He’d been lecturing June for ten minutes now.
“How can she see me, then?” he asked.
“She uses her other senses.” I turned to June and said, “She can smell you and hear you.”
He giggled. “Ooohh, okay! So, when I go in there, I just say, Hey Mrs. Mary! And then she’ll know I’m there, right?”
My expression softened into one of adoration. June and I had forged a quick bond. He clung to me like he’d known me forever. There were a few times these past few days where I caught myself having motherly instincts when it came to him. I watched him play, making sure he stayed safe. Whenever he’d fall, I was right there dusting him off. Even while he’d eat, I’d make sure that he was chewing his food slow so that he wouldn’t choke. At bedtime, I assisted August in tucking him in. It was natural to love June.
“Right,” I finally replied.
“But we’re gon’ surprise Mary,” August explained. “So when we walk in, be very quiet.”
“Okay, Daddy!”
August got out of the truck first, then ushered me and June out. We each held one of June’s hands and walked inside of Ensley Shores. Katrina was at the front desk with her face slightly turned up as she saw us approaching, but she quickly masked it.
“Is there a problem?” August asked.
She quickly shook her head. He eyed her for a second before signing us in. Once we were on the elevator, he glanced at me.
“I can’t stand Mary being in the fuckin’ place.”
I could only agree. When we got to my grandmother’s door, I excitedly unlocked it with my key.
“Asia!” she exclaimed upon hearing me enter. I ran to her, dropped at the foot of her recliner and hugged her like we’d been apart for years.
“I missed you,” I cried.
She sniffled too. “Oh, now, stop it,” she fussed. “August, that you?”
He winked at me and smiled as he approached her. I had to move out of his way to let him hug her. He dropped a kiss on her cheek.
“I have someone I want you to meet,” he said. Watching August introduce his son was like experiencing motherhood for the first time. I saw the emotions on his face as he made the introductions. What warmed my soul was the shock and then pure joy on my grandmother’s face.
She fought back tears as she said, “Well, hi, June.”
“Hey,” June spoke back. “I know you can’t see me, but I smell like my daddy,” he said.
My grandmother busted out laughing through her tears. August mugged his son, who wasn’t paying him a bit of attention.
“Oh, you do?” Grandma asked.
“Yep! I don’t stink at all,” he continued. This time, August and I couldn’t help but to laugh. June was a character.
“Do you know how to read, June?” Grandma asked.
He nodded his head. “Yes, ma’am.”
Grinning, my grandmother pointed to the table. “I used to love to read. Your dad reads to me a lot.”
“Can I read to you?” June questioned.
“Why, of course!”
“Next time I come, I’m gonna bring a book to read to you.”
The unshed tears in my grandmother’s eyes weren’t able to be masked. She glanced away to keep June from seeing them. Once she’d gathered herself, she turned back to June.
“I look forward to it.”
Great, I thought. Now I was tearing up.
We stayed with my grandmother for the next hour, letting June tell her all about our trip to Miami. All the while, a content smile rode August’s face. I knew without a doubt that he was thinking about the times with his own grandmother.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
AUGUST WELLS
“I must say, you look happier,” Pastor James said. He stood next to me at the railing, overlooking the darkened waters of the bay. I’d left work late and instead of heading home, I asked him to meet me here.
“What’s on ya mind, Kid?” he asked.
“Daniel Williams,” I mumbled.
He turned from the water to glance at me.
“Mary told you?”
I shook my head ‘no’.
“Asia’s mama—”
He grumbled under his breath.
“—brought him up. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Pastor James sighed and turned his back to lean up against the railing.
“Number one, it ain’t my place to tell you. Number two… There are two types of people, August. Those who understand they messed up, and those who refuse to acknowledge that they messed up. Mary is the former, Athena the latter. The thing is the latter folks are the ones you have to watch out for. They’re the ones who are likely to repeat the same mistakes over and over. They’re the ones pointing their finger at the folks who messed up and chose to get it right. You see, there’s a level of jealousy there. Why? ‘Cause the former had the courage to do what the latter doesn’t. The former had the courage to own their mess up. The latter never wants to even think about the fact that they messed up. They’ll spend their whole life making excuses and forcing others to accept them for the flawed person that they continue to be.”
After a second passed, I said, “I’m the former.”
Pastor James nodded. “Right, son. That’s why I urge you to talk to Mary. Hear her side. No matter how messed up it sounds, listen.”
I dapped Pastor James.
“Athena has been fighting demons for a long time. Age did nothing to heal the little girl in her who still hasn’t made peace with her past. I once told Asia to show her mama grace and to love her from afar until Athena could healthily love her daughter.” He shook his head. “I’m not even sure if Athena will ever come to a place where she doesn’t blame Asia for her life being the way that it is.”
“Why blame Asia? She’s the one who messed with a married man.”
“There’s that word mess. Remember, the latter refuse to own their mess, son. As much as Athena didn’t want an abortion, she hated having Asia. I believe a part of her thought Asia would somehow heal her. When that wasn’t the case, she turned to hating her own daughter.”
Again, I was quiet as I put my eyes back on the water. Asia deserved better from her mother. As a nigga who didn’t have mine, I would’ve given anything to have my mama in my life. Losing her set me on a path of destruction. A path that Granny tried her best to keep me off of. I was too fucking stubborn to see that she was trying to save me.
“I love Mary and Asia, PJ. I want the best for them.”
He chuckled. “I expected you to fall a lot sooner, big dawg.”
I glanced at him, and he shrugged.
“No, I’m not a matchmaker. I’ve seen the three of you together in my dreams once or twice,” he admitted. “You’ve been blessed to have two soulmates, August. Mary and Asia are a package. Are you ready to accept that?”
“What’s the soonest you’ve ever married a couple?” I questioned.
His laughter seemed to ripple with the waves below before he sobered. “Granny would be proud. Not only at the fact that you’re starting to live again, but also at the fact that you finally understand you deserve it.”
I left Pastor James and headed home, thinking about my next moves. He said that Mary and Asia were a package, and I agreed. Everything inside me wanted Mary out of that fucking home. Only, Mary had a son who would fight me tooth and nail about getting her out of there. Not to mention, I’d never had the first argument with Mary’s daughter. In the months since I’d been going to Mary’s, I hadn’t once laid eyes on the lady. Still, in my heart of hearts, I knew I wanted her out of there.
When I made it home, Asia’s Range Rover was in the driveway. Inside the house, I found her knocked out on the couch, with the television watching her. Chuckling, I bent down and kissed her parted lips. Coming home to this was just…heaven sent.
I left her there for a minute, then went down the hallway to the room where I kept my books. Making a full circle, I envisioned the space with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that overflowed with books. In front of the double windows overlooking the front yard, a recliner could go right there. One that Mary could sit in and let the sun play on her face.
With my mind made up, I went to my laptop and ordered everything I needed to transform the room. If I wanted Mary out of Ensley Shores, I needed a place for her to come to. She wanted to be home. This was her home. And Asia’s.
